Ip address allocation method in d2d communication and user equipment

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide an IP address allocation method in D2D communication and user equipment. The method provided in the present invention includes: sending, by first user equipment UE, a first message to second UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE; and receiving, by the first UE, a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2015/079209, filed on May 18, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to communications technologies, and in particular, to an IP address allocation method in D2D communication and user equipment.

BACKGROUND

With high-speed development of mobile communication, a Long Term Evolution (LTE for short) network system provides many services of new types for a user, for example, data services such as surfing the Internet with a mobile phone, and instant chat, and wide use of the data services increases a bandwidth requirement of the user. Device-to-device (D2D for short) communication allows direct communication between user equipments (UE for short), and the user equipments may share spectrum resources with a cell user under control of a cell network. This effectively improves utilization of the spectrum resources. Currently, D2D communication has been applied to the LTE network system.

D2D communication includes one-to-many communication (One to many communication), that is, group communication, and one-to-one communication (One to one communication). In the one-to-one communication, a sending party UE needs to learn an address of a receiving party UE for performing D2D communication with the receiving party UE. The address specifically includes a layer-2 address of the receiving party UE, that is, a device address of the receiving party UE, and a network address of the receiving party UE, that is, an Internet Protocol (IP for short) address. Specifically, the layer-2 address is used by the two UEs that perform the D2D communication to perform signaling interaction, and the IP address is used by the two parties that perform the D2D communication to perform data interaction. The layer-2 address of the receiving party UE may be obtained by the sending party UE in a D2D discovery or pre-configuration manner. In this case, the sending party UE performs signaling interaction with the receiving party UE, so that one party UE of the D2D communication to obtain an IP address of the other party UE.

In the prior art, both a sending party UE and a receiving party UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address, or serve as a receiver of an IP address. When both the sending party UE and the receiving party UE serve as an allocator of an IP address, the IP address may be repeatedly allocated. For example, both the sending party UE and the receiving party UE may serve as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP for short) server and allocate an IP address of an IPv4 type; or both the sending party UE and the receiving party UE may serve as an IP router (IP router) and allocate an IP address of an IPv6 type. When both the sending party UE and the receiving party UE serve as a receiver of an IP address, the IP address may not be allocated. The foregoing two problems may cause a failure in establishing a D2D communication connection.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide an IP address allocation method in D2D communication and user equipment, to avoid a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and a receiving party UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication, and improve a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an IP address allocation method in D2D communication, including:

sending, by first user equipment UE, a first message to second UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE; and

receiving, by the first UE, a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In a first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first message includes a first packet data network PDN type, and the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the first UE.

According to the first aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, when the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE, and the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, when the second message includes the second PDN type, the method further includes:

if the first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE supports the second PDN type, allocating, by the first UE, a second IP address to the second UE, and sending the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE; or

if the first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE does not support the second PDN type, sending, by the first UE, a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, when the second message includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, the method further includes:

if the first UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address, allocating, by the first UE, a second IP address to the second UE, and sending the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE; or

if the first UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address, sending, by the first UE, a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, when the first message includes the first PDN type, the second message includes the cause value, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE supports the first PDN type, the method further includes:

allocating, by the first UE, a second IP address of the first PDN type to the second UE, and sending the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, when the first message includes the first PDN type, the second message includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE does not support the first PDN type, the method further includes:

if the first UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, allocating, by the first UE, a second IP address to the second UE, and sending the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE; or

if the first UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, sending, by the first UE, a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to any one of the first aspect, or the first to the sixth implementation manners of the first aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner, the first message further includes an identity, and the identity is used to instruct the second UE to determine, according to the identity, that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication, or the identity is used to indicate that the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication.

According to any one of the first aspect, or the first to the seventh implementation manners of the first aspect, in an eighth possible implementation manner, before the sending, by first UE, a first message to second UE, the method further includes:

obtaining, by the first UE, a second PDN type of the second UE; and

allocating, by the first UE, the first IP address to the second UE according to the second PDN type of the second UE.

According to any one of the first aspect, or the first to the eighth implementation manners of the first aspect, in a ninth possible implementation manner, before the sending, by first UE, a first message to second UE, the method further includes:

receiving, by the first UE, a third message sent by the second UE; and

allocating, by the first UE, the first IP address to the second UE according to the third message.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an IP address allocation method in D2D communication, including:

receiving, by second user equipment UE, a first message sent by first UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE; and

sending, by the second UE, a second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the sending, by the second UE, a second message to the first UE includes:

if the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address, sending, by the second UE, the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second packet data network PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE; or

if the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address but the second UE supports the first PDN type, sending, by the second UE, the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address but the second UE supports the first PDN type; or

if the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address and the second UE does not support the first PDN type, sending, by the second UE, the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the first UE, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address and the second UE does not support the first PDN type, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE; or

if the second UE supports a type of the first IP address, sending, by the second UE, the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address succeeds.

According to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, when the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the method further includes:

receiving, by the second UE, a second IP address sent by the first UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE; or

receiving, by the second UE, a feedback message sent by the first UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to any one of the second aspect, or the first to the second implementation manners of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the first message further includes an identity, and the method further includes:

determining, by the second UE according to the identity, that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication or that the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication.

According to any one of the second aspect, or the first to the third implementation manners of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, before the receiving, by second UE, a first message sent by first UE, the method further includes:

sending, by the second UE, a third message to the first UE, where the third message is used to request the first UE to allocate the first IP address to the second UE.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an IP address allocation method in D2D communication, where a first IP address is pre-configured in first user equipment UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in second UE, and the method includes:

sending, by the first UE, a first message to the second UE, where the first message includes the first IP address and instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use the second IP address, and the first message is used to request the second UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the first UE according to the first IP address; and

receiving, by the first UE, a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message is used to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection succeeds.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an IP address allocation method in D2D communication, where a first IP address is pre-configured in first user equipment UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in second UE, and the method includes:

sending, by the first UE, a first message to the second UE, where the first message includes instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a device-to-device D2D communication connection; and

receiving, by the first UE, a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message includes the second IP address, so that the first UE establishes a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the second UE according to the second IP address.

In a first possible implementation manner of the fourth aspect, the first message further includes a packet data network PDN type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the second UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the second UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type.

According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides UE, including:

a transmitter, configured to send a first message to peer UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the UE to the peer UE; and

a receiver, configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In a first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, the first message includes a first packet data network PDN type, and the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE.

According to the fifth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, when the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the peer UE, and the cause value is used to indicate that the peer UE does not support a type of the first IP address.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, when the second message includes the second PDN type, the UE further includes a processor, configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when determining, according to the second message, that the UE supports the second PDN type, and

the transmitter is further configured to send, to the peer UE, the second IP address allocated by the processor, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE; or

the processor is further configured to determine, according to the second message, that the UE does not support the second PDN type, and

the transmitter is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, when the second message includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, the UE further includes a processor, configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when the UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address, and

the transmitter is further configured to send, to the peer UE, the second IP address allocated by the processor, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE; or

the processor is further configured to determine that the UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address, and

the transmitter is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner, when the first message includes the first PDN type, the second message includes the cause value, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the peer UE supports the first PDN type, the UE further includes a processor, configured to allocate a second IP address of the first PDN type to the peer UE; and

the transmitter is further configured to send the second IP address to the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE.

According to the second possible implementation manner of the fifth aspect, in a sixth possible implementation manner, when the first message includes the first PDN type, the second message includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the peer UE does not support the first PDN type, the UE further includes a processor, configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when the UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type. and

the transmitter is further configured to send the second IP address to the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE; or

the processor is further configured to determine that the UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, and

the transmitter is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to any one of the fifth aspect, or the first to the sixth implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in a seventh possible implementation manner, the first message further includes an identity, and the identity is used to instruct the peer UE to determine, according to the identity, that the UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication, or the identity is used to indicate that the peer UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication.

According to any one of the fifth aspect, or the first to the seventh implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in an eighth possible implementation manner, the receiver is further configured to obtain a second PDN type of the peer UE before the transmitter sends the first message to the peer UE, and the UE further includes:

the processor, configured to allocate the first IP address to the peer UE according to the second PDN type of the peer UE.

According to any one of the fifth aspect, or the first to the eighth implementation manners of the fifth aspect, in a ninth possible implementation manner, the receiver is further configured to: before the transmitter sends the first message to the peer UE, receive a third message sent by the peer UE, and the UE further includes:

the processor, configured to allocate the first IP address to the peer UE according to the third message.

According to a sixth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides UE, including:

a receiver, configured to receive a first message sent by peer UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the peer UE to the UE; and

a transmitter, configured to send a second message to the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In a first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, the UE further includes a processor, and that the transmitter is configured to send the second message to the peer UE includes:

the transmitter is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the processor determines, according to the first message, that the UE does not support a type of the first IP address, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second packet data network PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the UE does not support the type of the first IP address, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE; or

the transmitter is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the processor determines, according to the first message, that the UE does not support a type of the first IP address but the UE supports the first PDN type, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the cause value is used to indicate that the UE does not support the type of the first IP address but the UE supports the first PDN type; or

the transmitter is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the processor determines, according to the first message, that the UE supports neither a type of the first IP address nor the first PDN type, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the peer UE, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the UE supports neither the type of the first IP address nor the first PDN type, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE; or

the transmitter is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the processor determines that the UE supports a type of the first IP address, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address succeeds.

According to the sixth aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the sixth aspect, in a second possible implementation manner, when the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the receiver is further configured to receive a second IP address sent by the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the UE and the peer UE; or

the receiver is further configured to receive a feedback message sent by the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

According to any one of the sixth aspect, or the first to the second implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in a third possible implementation manner, the first message further includes an identity, and the UE further includes the processor, configured to determine, according to the identity, that the peer UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication or that the UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication.

According to any one of the sixth aspect, or the first to the third implementation manners of the sixth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner, the transmitter is further configured to send a third message to the peer UE before the receiver receives the first message sent by the peer UE, where the third message is used to request the peer UE to allocate the first IP address to the UE.

According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides UE, where a first IP address is pre-configured in the UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in peer UE, and the UE includes:

a transmitter, configured to send a first message to the peer UE, where the first message includes the first IP address and instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the peer UE to use the second IP address, and the first message is used to request the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the UE according to the first IP address; and

a receiver, configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection succeeds.

According to an eighth aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides UE, where a first IP address is pre-configured in the UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in peer UE, and the UE includes:

a transmitter, configured to send a first message to the peer UE, where the first message includes instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the peer UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the UE is an establisher of a device-to-device D2D communication connection; and

a receiver, configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message includes the second IP address, so that the UE establishes a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the peer UE according to the second IP address.

In a first possible implementation manner of the eighth aspect, the first message further includes a packet data network PDN type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the peer UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the peer UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type.

According to the IP address allocation method in D2D communication and the user equipment that are provided in the embodiments of the present invention, first UE sends a first message that includes an allocated first IP address to second UE, where the first message explicitly indicates responsibilities of the first UE and the second UE in an IP address allocation process, that is, the first UE is an allocator of an IP address, and the second UE is a receiver of an IP address, so that the second UE returns a second message according to the received first IP address, where the second message specifically indicates whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails, that is, when the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE, the second UE does not execute an operation of allocating an IP address. According to the method provided in the embodiments, a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and peer UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication is resolved, and a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection is correspondingly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description show some embodiments of the present invention, and persons of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of still another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of yet another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of still yet another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of still another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a control plane protocol stack between UEs in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another UE according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another UE according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following clearly describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Apparently, the described embodiments are some but not all of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

To meet a requirement of an LTE network system for high-density users and a high throughput, D2D communication is generally performed between UEs, that is, communication can be directly performed between the UEs by reusing cell resources. UE described in the following embodiments of the present invention is UE that can execute D2D communication, and the UE may share resources with a cell user under control of a cell network. This improves utilization of spectrum resources. In addition, D2D communication further has advantages, for example, relieving a burden of a cellular network, reducing battery consumption of a mobile terminal, increasing a bit rate, and improving robustness of a network infrastructure fault, and may further support a point-to-point data service in a small range.

Currently, generally used D2D communication includes a Bluetooth (Bluetooth), a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi for short) direct connection, that is, Wi-Fi Direct, and the like. D2D communication described in the following embodiments of the present invention is D2D communication based on an LTE network system, and generally includes D2D communication in an LTE network (LTE-D2D) and a proximity-based service (ProSe for short). Both the LTE-D2D and the ProSe can be applied to UEs that directly communicate with each other, and the UEs can communicate with each other when there is no network infrastructure.

From a perspective of an application scenario, D2D communication includes group communication and one-to-one communication, and an IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in the following embodiments of the present invention is applicable to one-to-one communication. Specifically, if UE 1 expects to perform D2D communication with UE 2, the UE 1 sends a communication establishment request message to the UE 2, where the request message carries a layer-2 address of the UE 2, that is, a Layer-2 address. The Layer-2 address is filled in a Medium Access Control (MAC for short) layer of a protocol stack as a packet header of the MAC layer. The Layer-2 address may be obtained by the UE 1 by means of D2D discovery, or may be pre-configured in the UE 1, or the like. After receiving the request message, the UE 2 may verify an identity of the UE 1. However, UE that establishes D2D communication further needs to obtain an IP address of peer UE to implement data transmission. In the foregoing IP address allocation manner provided in the prior art, both the UE 1 and the UE 2 may serve as an allocator of an IP address, or may serve as a receiver of an IP address. Therefore, an IP address may be repeatedly allocated or an IP address may not be allocated, resulting in a failure in establishing a D2D communication connection.

Specific embodiments are used in the following to detail the technical solutions of the present invention. In the embodiments of the present invention, an allocator that allocates an IP address and a receiver that receives an IP address may involve only two UEs without involving a network device, such as an E-UTRAN NodeB (eNB for short), that is, a network element involved in the embodiments of the present invention is only UE. The following several specific embodiments may be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described repeatedly in some embodiments.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is applicable to a case in which two UEs that establish D2D communication allocate an IP address. The method provided in this embodiment may be executed by UE. The UE may be implemented in a hardware or software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S110. First UE sends a first message to second UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE.

In this embodiment, the first UE is an initiator of D2D communication, and when initiating the D2D communication, the first UE may allocate, to the second UE, the first IP address used to establish the D2D communication. Therefore, the first UE knows an IP address of the first UE, and may know an IP address, that is, the first IP address allocated by the first UE, of peer UE in the D2D communication, that is, the second UE. In the method provided in this embodiment, as the initiator of the D2D communication, the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in the D2D communication. Specifically, the first IP address allocated by the first UE is carried in the first message that is sent to the second UE, and correspondingly, the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication. In specific implementation, it may be stipulated in a preset protocol that, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in an IP address allocation process of the D2D communication by using an information element carried in the first message. In this embodiment, if the first message sent by the first UE includes the allocated first IP address, it may be determined that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address, and therefore, the second UE may verify an identity of the first UE by using the allocated first IP address and a known Layer-2 address, to implement establishment of a D2D communication connection.

It should be noted that, the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE in this embodiment may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the first UE sends a communication establishment request message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address allocation message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment request message or an IP address allocation message.

S120. The first UE receives a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In this embodiment, when receiving the first message that is a request message and is sent by the first UE, the second UE obtains the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE. In this case, the second UE may know whether the first IP address is a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE. However, when allocating the first IP address, the first UE does not know the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, that is, a type of the first IP address is randomly allocated by the first UE according to a capability of the first UE. Therefore, when the second UE supports the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address succeeds; or when the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails. When the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, for example, the type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv6 type, but the second UE does not support an IP address of an IPv6 type, the second UE cannot establish a D2D communication connection to the first UE by using the first IP address.

In this embodiment, when the second UE does not support the first IP address, as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication, the second UE does not allocate an IP address, but specifically returns, to the first UE, an indication message indicating that allocation of the first IP address fails, so as to instruct the first UE to perform subsequent IP address allocation work. In addition, in this case, the second message includes at least one of a second packet data network (PDN for short) type or a cause value, the second PDN type is used to indicate the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, and the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address. Specifically, the second UE indicates an allocation situation of the first IP address to the first UE by adding an information element to the second message. Both the second PDN type and the cause value may indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails.

In the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in this embodiment, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in a D2D communication establishment process. In one aspect, the first UE serves as the initiator of the D2D communication and actively executes an operation of allocating an IP address. In another aspect, even if the second UE knows that the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE is not supported, the second UE does not execute the operation of allocating an IP address, but feeds back at least one of the second PDN type or the cause value to the first UE, to indicate the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE to the first UE. Therefore, a case in which both the two UEs that execute the D2D communication serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address does not exist, thereby avoiding a case in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, and correspondingly improving a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

According to the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in this embodiment, first UE sends a first message that includes an allocated first IP address to second UE, where the first message explicitly indicates responsibilities of the first UE and the second UE in an IP address allocation process, that is, the first UE is an allocator of an IP address, and the second UE is a receiver of an IP address, so that the second UE returns a second message according to the received first IP address, where the second message specifically indicates whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails, that is, when the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE, the second UE does not execute an operation of allocating an IP address. According to the method provided in this embodiment, a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and peer UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication is resolved, and a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection is correspondingly improved.

Further, when the second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message specifically carries at least one of the second PDN type or the cause value, and the second PDN type specifically indicates the type, of the IP address, that can be supported by the second UE. If the second message includes only the cause value, although the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE is not explicitly indicated, the type, of the IP address, that can be supported by the second UE is implicitly indicated because a type of an IP address generally includes an IPv4 type and an IPv6 type at present. In addition, considering a factor that different types of IP addresses can be compatible with the first UE, even if the second UE does not support the type of the allocated first IP address, the first UE may have a capability of allocating, to the second UE, an IP address of a type that can be supported by the second UE. For example, if the first UE supports an IPv6 address type and the second UE supports an IPv4 address type, the first IP address allocated by the first UE, that is, an address of an IPv6 type, cannot be supported by the second UE. However, the first UE may further allocate an address of an IPv4 type because of higher compatibility. Therefore, in the method provided in this embodiment, the second UE may further send, to an allocator of an IP address, that is, the first UE, an information element that is used to indicate the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, so as to instruct the first UE to reallocate a second IP address to the second UE, that is, the second PDN type. Therefore, the first UE may perform subsequent IP address allocation work according to the information element in the second message.

Optionally, FIG. 2 is a flowchart of another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. If the second message in S120 in this embodiment specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, and the second message specifically includes the second PDN type, the method in this embodiment further includes:

S130. If the first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE supports the second PDN type, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE, and sends the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

In this embodiment, because the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the second PDN type is specifically carried in the second message that is sent by the second UE to the first UE. The first UE may learn, according to the second PDN type, the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, and may know whether an IP address of the second PDN type is compatible with the first UE. That is, when the IP address of the second PDN type can be compatible with the first UE, the first UE serves as an allocator of an IP address and may reallocate the second IP address to the second UE, and a type of the second IP address is a type, of an IP address, indicated by the second PDN type.

In another possible implementation manner of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the method further includes the following step:

S140. If the first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE does not support the second PDN type, the first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

In this embodiment, when obtaining the second PDN type returned by the second UE, the first UE determines that an IP address of the second PDN type cannot be compatible with the first UE, that is, the first UE may know that each IP address allocated by the first UE cannot be supported by the second UE, and the second UE cannot establish the D2D communication connection by using an IP address allocated by the first UE. In this case, the first UE sends the feedback message to the second UE, to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that, the foregoing S130 and S140 are two optional execution manners in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and either one is selected to be performed.

Optionally, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of still another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. When the second message in S120 in this embodiment specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, and the second message specifically includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, the method in this embodiment further includes the following step:

S130. If the first UE supports an IP address of another type except a type of the first IP address, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE, and sends the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

In this embodiment, because the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the cause value is specifically carried in the second message that is sent by the second UE to the first UE. Because a type of an IP address generally used for establishing a communication connection includes an IPv4 type and an IPv6 type, if the type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv6 type, and the second UE does not support the IPv6 type, the cause value is carried in the second message for feedback, to indicate that the second UE does not support an address of the IPv6 type. This means that the second UE supports an address of the IPv4 type. In addition, if the first UE also supports the address of the IPv4 type, the first UE serves as an allocator of an IP address and may reallocate the second IP address to the second UE, and a type of the second IP address is an IPv4 type. In this embodiment, the first UE may determine, according to the cause value in the second message and the type of the allocated first IP address, the second PDN type supported by the second UE, so that the first UE allocates the second IP address to the second UE when the second PDN type can be compatible with the first UE.

In another possible implementation manner of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the method further includes the following step:

S140. If the first UE does not support an IP address of another type except a type of the first IP address, the first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

In this embodiment, similarly, when obtaining the cause value returned by the second UE, the first UE may determine, according to the cause value and the type of the allocated first IP address, the second PDN type supported by the second UE. However, when the second PDN type cannot be compatible with the first UE, that is, when the first UE may know that each IP address allocated by the first UE cannot be supported by the second UE, the first UE sends the feedback message to the second UE, to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that, the foregoing S130 and S140 are two optional execution manners in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, and either one is selected to be performed.

Further, the first message sent by the first UE in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 may further include a first PDN type, that is, when the first UE sends the first message, a type, of an IP address, supported by the first UE is indicated to the second UE, and when the second message specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, a processing manner of the first UE is different from those in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

Optionally, FIG. 4 is a flowchart of yet another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. When the first message in S110 in this embodiment further includes the first PDN type, the second message in S120 specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message specifically includes the cause value, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE supports the first PDN type, the method in this embodiment further includes the following step:

S130. The first UE allocates a second IP address of the first PDN type to the second UE, and sends the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

In this embodiment, the type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE may not be the first PDN type. For example, the first PDN type is an IPv6 type, but the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv4 type. In addition, a second PDN type of the second UE is an IPv6 type, and the IPv4 type is not compatible with the second UE. In this case, the returned cause value indicates that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address. Because the second UE may learn, from the received first message, that the first PDN type supported by the first UE is the same as the second PDN type supported by the second UE, the second UE determines that the second UE can support the first PDN type, and then indicates a result of the foregoing determining by using the cause value. Therefore, when the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE supports the first PDN type, the first UE serves as an allocator of an IP address, and the first UE may further allocate the second IP address of the first PDN type to the second UE.

Optionally, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of still yet another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. When the first message in S110 in this embodiment further includes the first PDN type, the second message in S120 specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message specifically includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE does not support the first PDN type, the method in this embodiment further includes the following step:

S130. If the first UE supports an IP address of another type except a type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE, and sends the second IP address to the second UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

In this embodiment, for example, if both the first PDN type supported by the first UE and the type of the allocated first IP address are an IPv6 type, and the second UE supports only an IPv4 type, the second message sent by the second UE indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, and the second UE may directly determine that the second UE does not support the first PDN type. In this case, considering compatibility of the first UE, when an IP address of the IPv4 type can be compatible with the first UE, the first UE serves as an allocator of an IP address and may allocate an IP address of another type except the first PDN type to the second UE, and a type of the second IP address is an IPv4 type.

In another possible implementation manner of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the method further includes the following step:

S140. If the first UE does not support an IP address of another type except a type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, the first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

In this embodiment, a case in S130 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is used as an example for description. If both the first PDN type supported by the first UE and the type of the allocated first IP address are an IPv6 type, and the second UE supports only an IPv4 type, the second message sent by the second UE indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, and the second UE may directly determine that the second UE does not support the first PDN type. In this case, when an IP address of the IPv4 type cannot be compatible with the first UE, that is, when the first UE may know that each IP address allocated by the first UE cannot be supported by the second UE, the first UE sends the feedback message to the second UE, to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that, the foregoing S130 and S140 are two optional execution manners in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, and either one is selected to be performed.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, the first message sent by the first UE may further include an identity, and the identity may be, for example, an information element IP role (role) carried in the first message. When the IP role is set as a server (server), the IP role indicates that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address. Correspondingly, when reading the IP role from the first message, the second UE determines that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication, or determines, according to the IP role, that the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication. In this embodiment, respective responsibilities, in an IP address allocation process, of the two UEs that establish the D2D communication connection are explicitly specified by adding the identity. This further ensures feasibility of IP address allocation.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, before S110, the method may further include: obtaining, by the first UE, a second PDN type of the second UE. The second PDN type may be obtained in a near field discovery process of the first UE and the second UE, so that the first UE can learn, according to the obtained second PDN type, the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, and allocate the first IP address to the second UE when the second PDN type can be compatible with the first UE, and the type of the first IP address is the second PDN type.

It should be noted that, the first UE in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention serves as an initiator of D2D communication and is responsible for allocating an IP address. In addition, the initiator of the D2D communication may also serve as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication. For example, a specific implementation manner is as follows: In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, before S110, the method may further include: receiving, by the first UE, a third message sent by the second UE; and allocating, by the first UE, the first IP address to the second UE according to the third message. In this embodiment, the second UE is specifically an initiator of D2D communication, and the initiator of the D2D communication actually serves as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is applicable to a case in which two UEs that establish D2D communication allocate an IP address. The method provided in this embodiment may be executed by UE. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S210. Second UE receives a first message sent by first UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE.

The same as the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the second UE in this embodiment is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication. When receiving the first message sent by the first UE, the second UE receives the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE, so that an initiator of the D2D communication is explicitly known, that is, the first UE is specifically an allocator of an IP address in the D2D communication. In specific implementation, it may be stipulated in a preset protocol that, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in an IP address allocation process of the D2D communication by using an allocated IP address carried in the first message. In this embodiment, if the first message sent by the first UE includes the allocated first IP address, it may be determined that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address, and therefore, the second UE may verify an identity of the first UE by using the allocated first IP address and a known Layer-2 address, to implement establishment of a D2D communication connection.

It should be noted that, the first IP address that is allocated by the first UE and received by the second UE in this embodiment may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the first UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address allocation message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address allocation message.

S220. The second UE sends a second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In this embodiment, the second UE obtains the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE, and the second UE may know whether the first IP address is a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE. However, when allocating the first IP address, the first UE does not know the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, that is, a type of the first IP address is randomly allocated by the first UE according to a capability of the first UE. Therefore, when the second UE supports the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address succeeds; or when the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails. When the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, for example, the type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv6 type, but the second UE does not support an IP address of an IPv6 type, the second UE cannot establish a D2D communication connection to the first UE by using the first IP address.

In the method provided in this embodiment, the first message received by the second UE carries the allocated first IP address, that is, the two UEs that establish the D2D communication determine that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in the D2D communication. Therefore, even if the second UE does not support the allocated first IP address, the second UE does not execute an operation of allocating an IP address, but returns, to the first UE, an indication message indicating that allocation of the first IP address fails, so as to instruct the first UE to perform subsequent IP address allocation work. In addition, in this case, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the second UE indicates an allocation situation of the first IP address to the first UE by adding an information element to the second message. Both the second PDN type and the cause value may indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails.

In this embodiment, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in a D2D communication establishment process. In one aspect, the first UE serves as the initiator of the D2D communication and actively executes an operation of allocating an IP address. In another aspect, even if the second UE knows that the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE is not supported, the second UE does not execute the operation of allocating an IP address, but feeds back the second PDN type to the first UE, to indicate the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE to the first UE. Therefore, a case in which both the two UEs that execute the D2D communication serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address does not exist, thereby avoiding a case in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, and correspondingly improving reliability of establishing a D2D communication connection.

According to the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in this embodiment, second UE receives a first message that is sent by first UE and includes an allocated first IP address, to explicitly learn responsibilities of the first UE and the second UE in an IP address allocation process, that is, the first UE is an allocator of an IP address, and the second UE is a receiver of an IP address, so that the second UE returns a second message according to the received first IP address, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails, that is, when the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE, the second UE does not execute an operation of allocating an IP address. According to the method provided in this embodiment, a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and peer UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication is resolved, and a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection is correspondingly improved.

In specific implementation of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the second UE determines instruction information in the returned second message according to the type of the received first IP address and a first PDN type that may be carried in the first message. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Optionally, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following step: S230. If the second UE supports a type of the allocated first IP address, the second UE sends the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address succeeds.

In another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the method further includes the following step: S240. If the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address, the second UE sends the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE. In this embodiment, the second UE directly determines, according to the type of the first IP address and a capability of the second UE, whether the type of the first IP address is supported. In this case, the first UE may determine, according to compatibility of the first UE, whether the first UE may continue to allocate a second IP address to the second UE. Specifically, if the first UE can support the second PDN type, a second IP address of the second PDN type may be allocated to the second UE; or if the first UE cannot support the second PDN type, a feedback message is sent to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that, the foregoing S230 and S240 are two optional execution manners in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, and either one is selected to be performed.

Further, FIG. 8 is a flowchart of still another IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, if the first message further includes a first PDN type, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following step: S230. If the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address but the second UE supports the first PDN type, the second UE sends the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address but the second UE supports the first PDN type. In this embodiment, considering a factor that different types of IP addresses can be compatible with the first UE, even if the second UE does not support the type of the allocated first IP address, the first UE may have a capability of allocating, to the second UE, an IP address of a type that can be supported by the second UE. For example, the first UE supports an IPv6 type, and an IPv4 type is compatible with the first UE; and the second UE supports the IPv6 type, but the IPv4 type is not compatible with the second UE. If the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv4 type, the first IP address cannot be supported by the second UE. However, if the second UE learns, by using the first message, that the second UE can support the first PDN type, the sent second message is used to instruct the first UE to allocate a second IP address whose type is the same as the first PDN type. The method provided in this embodiment further includes the following step: S240. The second UE receives a second IP address sent by the first UE, where the second IP address is used by the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE.

In another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, the method further includes the following step: S250. If the second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address and the second UE does not support the first PDN type, the second UE sends the second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the first UE, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address and the second UE does not support the first PDN type, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE. In this embodiment, similarly, compatibility of the first UE is considered. After determining that the type of the first IP address is not supported, the second UE further determines whether the first PDN type is supported. For example, the type of the first IP address is an IPv6 type, the first PDN type is also an IPv6 type, and the second UE can support only an IP address of an IPv4 type. Therefore, when the second message is sent, that the second UE supports neither the type of the first IP address nor the first PDN type may be indicated in the cause value. In this case, the first UE may determine, according to the compatibility of the first UE, whether the first UE may continue to allocate a second IP address to the second UE. Specifically, if the second PDN type can be compatible with the first UE, a second IP address of the second PDN type may be allocated to the second UE; or if the second PDN type cannot be compatible with the first UE, a feedback message is sent to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that, the foregoing S230 to S240 and S250 are two optional execution manners in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, and either one is selected to be performed.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, the first message sent by the first UE may further include an identity, and the identity may be, for example, an information element IP role carried in the first message. If the IP role may be set as a server, the method provided in this embodiment further includes: determining, by the second UE according to the identity, that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication or that the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication. In this embodiment, respective responsibilities, in an IP address allocation process, of the two UEs that establish the D2D communication connection are explicitly specified by adding the identity. This further ensures feasibility of IP address allocation.

It should be noted that, the second UE in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention serves as a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication, and the first UE serves as an initiator of the D2D communication and is responsible for allocating an IP address. Similarly, the initiator of the D2D communication may also serve as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication. For example, a specific implementation manner is as follows: In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, before S210, the method may further include: sending, by the second UE, a third message to the first UE, where the third message is used to request the first UE to allocate the first IP address to the second UE. In this embodiment, the second UE is specifically an initiator of D2D communication, and the initiator of the D2D communication actually serves as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is applicable to a case in which two UEs that establish D2D communication obtain an IP address. The method provided in this embodiment may be executed by UE. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S310. First UE sends a first message to second UE, where the first message includes a first IP address and instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use a pre-configured first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use a pre-configured second IP address, and the first message is used to request the second UE to establish a D2D communication connection to the first UE according to the first IP address.

In this embodiment, the first IP address is pre-configured in the first UE, and the second IP address is pre-configured in the second UE. For example, the first UE and the second UE have performed group communication before D2D communication, and the first UE and the second UE each have configured IP addresses. In this case, if the first UE and the second UE need to perform the D2D communication, the configured IP addresses used in the group communication may be directly used without a need to allocate an IP address. Specifically, the first UE serves as an initiator of the D2D communication, and when initiating the D2D communication, the first UE adds the configured first IP address of the first UE and the instruction information to the first message. For example, when the instruction information is set to be pre-configured (pre-configured), the instruction information instructs the first UE to use the first IP address and instructs the second UE to use the second IP address. The second UE may establish the D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE according to the instruction information and the first IP address.

It should be noted that, the first UE in this embodiment instructs, by using the first message, the second UE to establish the D2D communication connection by using the first IP address carried in the first message. The first IP address may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the first UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address sending message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address sending message.

S320. The first UE receives a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message is used to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection succeeds.

In this embodiment, when receiving the first message sent by the first UE, the second UE obtains the first IP address from the first message. Because the first UE and the second UE previously have performed the group communication, the second UE can support the first IP address, and may establish the D2D communication connection to the first UE by using the first IP address. Therefore, the second message used to indicate that establishment of the connection succeeds is returned to the first UE.

In this embodiment, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in a D2D communication establishment process. In one aspect, the first UE serves as the initiator of the D2D communication, and adds the first IP address and the instruction information to the first message sent by the first UE, to instruct the first UE and the second UE to use the respective configured IP addresses. In another aspect, that the first message sent by the first UE carries the first IP address further indicates that the second UE is an establisher of the D2D communication connection. Therefore, for two UEs that execute D2D communication, specified UE obtains a configured IP address of a peer UE, and establishes D2D communication by using the IP address obtained from the peer UE and a configured IP address of the specified UE. Obviously, a case in which both the two UEs serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address does not exist, thereby avoiding a case in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, and correspondingly improving a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

According to the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in this embodiment, first UE sends a first message that includes a first IP address and instruction information to second UE, where the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use a pre-configured first IP address and instruct the second UE to use a pre-configured second IP address, so that the second UE establishes a D2D communication connection to the first UE by using the first message and the first IP address carried in the first message. In the method provided in this embodiment, the first message explicitly indicates IP addresses used by the first UE and the second UE in D2D communication and responsibilities of the first UE and the second UE for establishing the D2D communication, thereby resolving a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and peer UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication, and correspondingly improving a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is applicable to a case in which two UEs that establish D2D communication obtain an IP address. The method provided in this embodiment may be executed by UE. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S410. First UE sends a first message to second UE, where the first message includes instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use a pre-configured first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use a pre-configured second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a device-to-device D2D communication connection.

Similar to the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the first IP address is pre-configured in the first UE, and the second IP address is pre-configured in the second UE. For example, the first UE and the second UE have performed group communication before D2D communication, and the first UE and the second UE each have configured IP addresses. In this case, if the first UE and the second UE need to perform the D2D communication, the configured IP addresses used in the group communication may be directly used without a need to allocate an IP address. Specifically, the first UE serves as an initiator of the D2D communication. For example, when the first UE initiates the D2D communication, the instruction information is set to be pre-configured (pre-configured) to instruct the first UE to use the first IP address and instruct the second UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is the establisher of the D2D communication connection. That is, when the first UE needs to obtain an IP address of peer UE in D2D communication, the second UE is instructed to send the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to the first UE.

S420. The first UE receives a second message sent by the second UE, where the second message includes the second IP address, so that the first UE establishes a D2D communication connection to the second UE according to the second IP address.

In this embodiment, when receiving the first message sent by the first UE, the second UE may know, by using content of the instruction information, that the first UE establishes the D2D communication connection. Therefore, the second UE adds the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to the second message and sends the second message to the first UE, so that the first UE establishes a direct D2D communication connection to the second UE by using the second IP address and the pre-configured first IP address of the first UE after obtaining the second IP address.

It should be noted that, the second UE in this embodiment sends the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to the first UE by using the received first message that includes the instruction information, to establish the D2D communication connection. The instruction information may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the first UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the instruction information is carried in an IP address sending message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address sending message.

Further, in the method provided in this embodiment, the first message may further include a PDN type, the PDN type is specifically a PDN type supported by the first UE, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the second UE. The second IP address in the second message is added by the second UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type. In this embodiment, multiple IP addresses may be pre-configured in both the first UE and the second UE, and the multiple pre-configured IP addresses may be IP addresses of different types. Therefore, when initiating a D2D communication request to the second UE, the first UE adds a PDN type that can be compatible with the first UE to the first message, to instruct the second UE to send the second IP address whose type is the same as the PDN type to the first UE when returning the second message to the first UE.

In this embodiment, the first UE and the second UE determine respective responsibilities in a D2D communication establishment process. In one aspect, the first UE serves as the initiator of the D2D communication, and adds the first IP address and the instruction information to the first message sent by the first UE, to instruct the first UE and the second UE to use the respective configured IP addresses. In another aspect, the instruction information in the first message further indicates that the first UE is the establisher of the D2D communication connection. Therefore, for two UEs that execute D2D communication, specified UE obtains a configured IP address of a peer UE, and establishes D2D communication by using the IP address obtained from the peer UE and a configured IP address of the specified UE. Obviously, a case in which both the two UEs serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address does not exist, thereby avoiding a case in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, and correspondingly improving a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

According to the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in this embodiment, second UE receives a first message that is sent by first UE and includes instruction information, where the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use a pre-configured first IP address, instruct the second UE to use a pre-configured second IP address, and indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a D2D communication connection, so that the second UE sends the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to the first UE, and the first UE establishes a D2D communication connection to the second UE according to the second IP address. In the method provided in this embodiment, the first message explicitly indicates IP addresses used by the first UE and the second UE in D2D communication and responsibilities of the first UE and the second UE for establishing the D2D communication, thereby resolving a case, in which an IP address is repeatedly allocated or an IP address is not allocated, caused because both a sending party UE and peer UE may serve as an allocator of an IP address or serve as a receiver of an IP address in an IP address allocation process of prior-art D2D communication, and correspondingly improving a success rate of establishing a D2D communication connection.

It should be noted that, the embodiments provided in the present invention are applicable to UEs that directly perform D2D communication, and a message does not need to be forwarded by using a network device. Therefore, even in an application scenario without network coverage, for example, when an infrastructure is damaged due to earthquake or tsunami, an IP address cannot be allocated, by using a network device, to UE that is to perform D2D communication. In the methods provided in the embodiments of the present invention, it can be ensured that an IP address is successfully allocated in D2D communication.

In specific implementation of the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, a protocol stack for communication between two UEs that establish a D2D communication connection, that is, first UE and second UE, is divided into a control plane and a user plane, and the protocol stack is similar to a protocol stack of a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP for short). A function of the control plane is signaling interaction, such as requesting, authentication, and allocation of a communication parameter, performed during connection establishment, and a function of the user plane is actual data receiving and sending. A first message, a second message, a third message, and a feedback message in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention are sent by using a control plane protocol stack between two UEs. As shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a control plane protocol stack between UEs in D2D communication according to an embodiment of the present invention. A control plane protocol stack between first UE and second UE includes the radio resource control (RRC for short) layer protocol, the radio link control (RLC for short) layer protocol, the MAC layer protocol, and the physical layer (PHY for short) protocol, where PC5-U (a control plane protocol of a control plane) represents a control plane interface between the two UEs. To implement user-plane data sending, two parties of D2D communication need to establish a user-layer connection, that is, the connection is established by using an IP address. In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, an IP address is obtained for implementing data sending in D2D communication.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is executed by first UE and second UE that are configured to establish a D2D communication connection, and the method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S501. The first UE sends a first message to the second UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE.

It should be noted that, the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE in this embodiment may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the first UE sends a communication establishment request message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address allocation message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment request message or an IP address allocation message.

S502. The second UE sends a second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In this embodiment, when receiving the first message that is a request message and is sent by the first UE, the second UE obtains the first IP address allocated by the first UE to the second UE. In this case, the second UE may know whether the first IP address is a type, of an IP address, supported by the second UE. However, when allocating the first IP address, the first UE does not know the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, that is, a type of the first IP address is randomly allocated by the first UE according to a capability of the first UE. Therefore, when the second UE supports the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address succeeds; or when the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails. When the second UE does not support the type of the first IP address, for example, the type of the first IP address allocated by the first UE is an IPv6 type, but the second UE does not support an IP address of the IPv6 type, the second UE cannot establish a D2D communication connection to the first UE by using the first IP address.

Optionally, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following step: S503. The second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE supports a type of the allocated first IP address, where the second message sent by the second UE to the first UE in S502 is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address succeeds.

In another implementation manner of this embodiment, the method further includes the following step: S504. The second UE determines, according to the first message, that the second UE does not support a type of the first IP address, where the second message in S502 is specifically used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the second PDN type specifically indicates a type, of an IP address, that can be supported by the second UE. If the second message includes only the cause value, although the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE is not explicitly indicated, the type, of the IP address, that can be supported by the second UE is implicitly indicated because a type of an IP address generally includes an IPv4 type and an IPv6 type at present. In addition, considering a factor that different types of IP addresses can be compatible with UE, even if the second UE does not support the type of the allocated first IP address, the first UE may have a capability of allocating, to the second UE, an IP address of a type that can be supported by the second UE.

In specific implementation of this embodiment, after the first UE receives the second message indicating that allocation of the first IP address fails, an execution manner may include the following several cases. In a first case, if the second message specifically includes the second PDN type, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following steps:

S505. If the first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE supports the second PDN type, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE.

S506. The first UE sends the second IP address to the second UE.

S507. The second UE establishes a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE by using the second IP address.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the foregoing first case, the method further includes the following steps:

S508. The first UE determines, according to the second message, that the first UE does not support the second PDN type.

S509. The first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

In a second case, if the second message specifically includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following steps:

S510. If the first UE determines that the first UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE.

S511. The first UE sends the second IP address to the second UE.

S512. The second UE establishes a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE by using the second IP address.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the foregoing second case, the method further includes the following steps:

S513. The first UE determines that the first UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address.

S514. The first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

Further, in the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B, the first message sent in S501 may further include a first PDN type, that is, when the first UE sends the first message, a type, of an IP address, supported by the first UE is indicated to the second UE. In this case, when the second message specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, a processing manner of the first UE is different from those in the first case and the second case. Specifically, a manner provided in this embodiment includes the following several cases. In a third case, if the second message specifically includes the cause value, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE supports the first PDN type, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following steps:

S515. The first UE allocates a second IP address of the first PDN type to the second UE.

S516. The first UE sends the second IP address to the second UE.

S517. The second UE establishes a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE by using the second IP address.

In a fourth case, if the second message specifically includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the second UE does not support the first PDN type, the method provided in this embodiment further includes the following steps:

S518. If the first UE determines that the first UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type, the first UE allocates a second IP address to the second UE.

S519. The first UE sends the second IP address to the second UE.

S520. The second UE establishes a D2D communication connection between the second UE and the first UE by using the second IP address.

Optionally, in another possible implementation manner of the foregoing fourth case, the method further includes the following steps:

S521. The first UE determines that the first UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type.

S522. The first UE sends a feedback message to the second UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

It should be noted that the first case to the fourth case provided in the foregoing embodiment of the present invention and various possible implementation manners of each case are executed optionally, and only one manner is selected to be performed.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, the first message sent by the first UE in S501 may further include an identity, and the identity may be, for example, an information element IP role carried in the first message. When the IP role is set as a server, the IP role indicates that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address. Correspondingly, when obtaining the IP role in the first message in S502, the second UE determines that the first UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication, or determines, according to the IP role, that the second UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, before S501, the method may further include the following step: S523. The first UE obtains a second PDN type of the second UE. The second PDN type may be obtained in a near field discovery process of the first UE and the second UE, so that the first UE can learn, according to the obtained second PDN type, the type, of the IP address, supported by the second UE, and allocate the first IP address to the second UE when the second PDN type can be compatible with the first UE, and the type of the first IP address is the second PDN type.

It should be noted that, the first UE in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention serves as an initiator of D2D communication and is responsible for allocating an IP address. In addition, the initiator of the D2D communication may also serve as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication. For example, a specific implementation manner is as follows: In the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, before S501, the method may further include the following steps: S524. The second UE sends a third message to the first UE. S525. The first UE allocates the first IP address to the second UE according to the third message. In this embodiment, the second UE is specifically an initiator of D2D communication, and the initiator of the D2D communication actually serves as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an IP address allocation method in D2D communication according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. The method provided in this embodiment is executed by first UE and second UE that establish a D2D communication connection, and the method in this embodiment includes the following steps.

S601. The first UE sends a first message to the second UE, where the first message includes instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use a pre-configured first IP address, and the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use a pre-configured second IP address.

Optionally, if the first message in S601 in this embodiment further includes the first IP address, the method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps: S602. The second UE establishes a D2D communication connection to the first UE according to the first IP address. S603. The second UE sends a second message to the first UE, where the second message is used to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection succeeds. In this embodiment, when the second UE receives the first message, because the first message includes the first IP address, the second UE may serve as an establisher of D2D communication, and establish the D2D communication connection to the first UE.

In another possible implementation manner of this embodiment, if the first message in S601 in this embodiment does not carry the first IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a D2D communication connection, the method provided in this embodiment includes the following steps: S604. The second UE adds the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to a second message according to the first message. S605. The second UE sends the second message to the first UE. S606. The first UE establishes a D2D communication connection to the second UE according to the second IP address. In this embodiment, when the second UE receives the first message, because the instruction information in the first message indicates that the first UE is the establisher of the D2D communication connection, the second UE sends the pre-configured second IP address of the second UE to the first UE, so that the first UE establishes the D2D communication connection to the second UE.

Further, the first message in this embodiment may further include a PDN type, the PDN type is specifically a PDN type supported by the first UE, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the second UE. The second IP address in the second message is added by the second UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type. In this embodiment, multiple IP addresses may be pre-configured in both the first UE and the second UE, and the multiple pre-configured IP addresses may be IP addresses of different types. Therefore, when initiating a D2D communication request to the second UE, the first UE adds a PDN type that can be compatible with the first UE to the first message, to instruct the second UE to send the second IP address whose type is the same as the PDN type to the first UE when returning the second message to the first UE.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 14 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. The UE provided in this embodiment is applicable to allocation of an IP address to peer UE when D2D communication is established. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The UE in this embodiment specifically includes a receiver 12 and a transmitter 11.

The transmitter 11 is configured to send a first message to the peer UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the UE to the peer UE.

It should be noted that, the first IP address allocated by the UE to the peer UE in this embodiment may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the UE sends a communication establishment request message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address allocation message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment request message or an IP address allocation message.

The receiver 12 is configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In this embodiment, when receiving the first message that is a request message and is sent by the UE, the peer UE obtains the first IP address allocated by the UE to the peer UE. In this case, the peer UE may know whether the first IP address is a type, of an IP address, supported by the peer UE. However, when allocating the first IP address, the UE does not know the type, of the IP address, supported by the peer UE, that is, a type of the first IP address is randomly allocated by the UE according to a capability of the UE. Therefore, when the peer UE supports the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address succeeds; or when the peer UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

Further, when the second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message specifically carries at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the second PDN type specifically indicates the type, of the IP address, that can be supported by the peer UE. If the second message includes only the cause value, although the type, of the IP address, supported by the peer UE is not explicitly indicated, the type, of the IP address, that can be supported by the peer UE is implicitly indicated because a type of an IP address generally includes an IPv4 type and an IPv6 type at present. In addition, considering a factor that different types of IP addresses can be compatible with the UE, even if the peer UE does not support the type of the allocated first IP address, the UE provided in this embodiment may have a capability of allocating, to the peer UE, an IP address of a type that can be supported by the peer UE. For example, if the UE supports an IPv6 address type and the peer UE supports an IPv4 address type, the first IP address allocated by the UE, that is, an address of an IPv6 type, cannot be supported by the peer UE. However, the UE may further allocate an address of an IPv4 type because of higher compatibility. Therefore, in this embodiment, the peer UE may further send, to an allocator of an IP address, that is, the UE, an information element that is used to indicate the type, of the IP address, supported by the peer UE, so as to instruct the UE to reallocate a second IP address to the peer UE, that is, the second PDN type. Therefore, the UE may perform subsequent IP address allocation work according to the information element in the second message.

Optionally, FIG. 15 is a schematic structural diagram of another UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, if the second message received by a receiver 12 specifically indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails, and the second message specifically includes the second PDN type, based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the UE provided in this embodiment further includes a processor 13, configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when determining, according to the second message, that the UE supports the second PDN type; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send, to the peer UE, the second IP address allocated by the processor 13, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE.

In another possible implementation manner of the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the processor 13 is further configured to determine, according to the second message, that the UE does not support the second PDN type; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

Optionally, when the second message received by the receiver 12 in this embodiment specifically includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, a specific execution manner of the UE shown in FIG. 15 is as follows: In one aspect, the processor 13 is configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when the UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send, to the peer UE, the second IP address allocated by the processor 13, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE. In another aspect, the processor 13 is configured to determine that the UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

Optionally, when the first message sent by the transmitter 11 in this embodiment includes a first PDN type, the second message received by the receiver 12 includes the cause value, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the peer UE supports the first PDN type, a specific execution manner of the UE shown in FIG. 15 is as follows: The processor 13 is configured to allocate a second IP address of the first PDN type to the peer UE; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send the second IP address to the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE.

Optionally, when the first message sent by the transmitter 11 in this embodiment includes a first PDN type, the second message received by the receiver 12 includes the cause value but does not include the second PDN type, and the cause value is further used to indicate that the peer UE does not support the first PDN type, a specific execution manner of the UE shown in FIG. 15 is as follows: In one aspect, the processor 13 is configured to allocate a second IP address to the peer UE when the UE supports an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send the second IP address to the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the peer UE to establish a D2D communication connection between the peer UE and the UE. In another aspect, the processor 13 is further configured to determine that the UE does not support an IP address of another type excluding the type of the first IP address and the first PDN type; and correspondingly, the transmitter 11 is further configured to send a feedback message to the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation methods in D2D communication provided in the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12B of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, the first message sent by the transmitter 11 may further include an identity, and the identity may be, for example, an information element IP role carried in the first message. When the IP role is set as a server, the IP role indicates that the UE is an allocator of an IP address. Correspondingly, when reading the IP role from the first message, the peer UE determines that the UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication, or determines, according to the IP role, that the peer UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication. In this embodiment, respective responsibilities, in an IP address allocation process, of the two UEs that establish the D2D communication connection are explicitly specified by adding the identity. This further ensures feasibility of IP address allocation.

Furthermore, the receiver 12 in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 15 is further configured to obtain a second PDN type of the peer UE before the transmitter 11 sends the first message to the peer UE. The processor 13 is further configured to allocate the first IP address to the peer UE according to the second PDN type of the peer UE, and the type of the first IP address is the second PDN type.

It should be noted that, the UE in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention serves as an initiator of D2D communication and is responsible for allocating an IP address. In addition, the initiator of the D2D communication may also serve as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication. For example, a specific implementation manner is as follows: In the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 15, the receiver 12 is further configured to: before the transmitter 11 sends the first message to the peer UE, receive a third message sent by the peer UE; and the processor 13 is further configured to allocate the first IP address to the peer UE according to the third message. In this embodiment, the UE is specifically an initiator of D2D communication, and the initiator of the D2D communication actually serves as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication.

It should be further noted that, the UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is first UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12B, and the peer UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 is second UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 16 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. The UE provided in this embodiment serves as a receiver of an IP address when D2D communication is established. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The UE in this embodiment specifically includes a receiver 21 and a transmitter 22.

The receiver 21 is configured to receive a first message sent by peer UE, where the first message includes a first IP address allocated by the peer UE to the UE.

It should be noted that, the first IP address that is allocated by the peer UE and received by the UE in this embodiment may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the peer UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address allocation message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address allocation message.

The transmitter 22 is configured to send a second message to the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate whether allocation of the first IP address succeeds or fails.

In this embodiment, the UE obtains the first IP address allocated by the peer UE to the UE, and the UE may know whether the first IP address is a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE. However, when allocating the first IP address, the peer UE does not know the type, of the IP address, supported by the UE, that is, a type of the first IP address is randomly allocated by the peer UE according to a capability of the peer UE. Therefore, when the UE provided in this embodiment supports the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address succeeds; or when the UE does not support the type of the first IP address, the returned second message indicates that allocation of the first IP address fails.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

In specific implementation of the foregoing embodiment of the present invention, the UE determines instruction information in the returned second message according to the type of the received first IP address and a first PDN type that may be carried in the first message. FIG. 17 is a schematic structural diagram of another UE according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a further description based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 16. Optionally, the UE provided in this embodiment further includes a processor 23, and that the transmitter 22 is configured to send the second message to the peer UE specifically includes the following cases. In one aspect, if allocation of the first IP address succeeds, the transmitter 22 is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the processor 23 determines that the UE supports a type of the first IP address, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address succeeds. In another aspect, a case in which allocation of the first IP address fails includes the following cases. In a first case, the transmitter 22 is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the processor 23 determines, according to the first message, that the UE does not support a type of the first IP address, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second packet data network PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the UE does not support the type of the first IP address, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE. In a second case, the transmitter 22 is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the processor 23 determines, according to the first message, that the UE does not support a type of the first IP address but the UE supports the first PDN type, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, and the cause value is used to indicate that the UE does not support the type of the first IP address but the UE supports the first PDN type. In a third case, the transmitter 22 is specifically configured to send the second message to the peer UE when the first message further includes a first PDN type, and the processor 23 determines, according to the first message, that the UE supports neither a type of the first IP address nor the first PDN type, where the second message is used to indicate that allocation of the first IP address fails, the first PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the peer UE, the second message includes at least one of a second PDN type or a cause value, the cause value is used to indicate that the UE supports neither the type of the first IP address nor the first PDN type, and the second PDN type is used to indicate a type, of an IP address, supported by the UE.

In the foregoing three cases in which allocation of the first IP address fails, the peer UE specifically determines, according to compatibility of the peer UE, whether the peer UE may continue to allocate a second IP address to the UE provided in this embodiment. A specific manner of determining is described in detail in the foregoing embodiment, and details are not described herein. The receiver 21 in this embodiment is further configured to receive a second IP address sent by the peer UE, where the second IP address is used by the UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection between the UE and the peer UE. Alternatively, the receiver 21 is further configured to receive a feedback message sent by the peer UE, where the feedback message is used to indicate that establishment of a D2D communication connection fails.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation methods in D2D communication provided in the embodiments shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments provided in the present invention, the first message received by the receiver 21 further includes an identity, and the processor 23 is further configured to determine, according to the identity, that the peer UE is an allocator of an IP address in D2D communication or that the UE is a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication. In this embodiment, respective responsibilities, in an IP address allocation process, of the two UEs that establish the D2D communication connection are explicitly specified by adding the identity. This further ensures feasibility of IP address allocation.

It should be noted that, the UE in the foregoing embodiments of the present invention serves as a receiver of an IP address in D2D communication, and the peer UE serves as an initiator of the D2D communication and is responsible for allocating an IP address. Similar to the foregoing embodiments, the initiator of the D2D communication may also serve as the receiver of the IP address in the D2D communication. For example, a specific implementation manner is as follows: In the foregoing embodiments of the present invention, the transmitter 22 is further configured to send a third message to the peer UE before the receiver 21 receives the first message sent by the peer UE, where the third message is used to request the peer UE to allocate the first IP address to the UE. The UE provided in this embodiment is specifically an initiator of D2D communication, and the initiator of the D2D communication actually serves as a receiver of an IP address in the D2D communication.

It should be further noted that, the UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 is second UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, FIG. 12A, and FIG. 12B, and the peer UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 is first UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8.

Embodiment 9

FIG. 18 is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to Embodiment 9 of the present invention. The UE provided in this embodiment is applicable to D2D communication. The UE may be implemented in a hardware and software manner, and may be integrated into a memory of the UE. For example, the UE is integrated into a chip of a processor, for being invoked and executed by the processor. The UE in this embodiment specifically includes a transmitter 31 and a receiver 32.

The transmitter 31 is configured to send a first message to peer UE, where the first message includes a first IP address and instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the peer UE to use a second IP address, and the first message is used to request the peer UE to establish a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the UE according to the first IP address.

In this embodiment, the first IP address is pre-configured in the UE, and the second IP address is pre-configured in the peer UE. For example, the UE and the peer UE have performed group communication before D2D communication, and the UE and the peer UE each have configured IP addresses. In this case, if the UE and the peer UE need to perform the D2D communication, the configured IP addresses used in the group communication may be directly used without a need to allocate an IP address. Specifically, the UE serves as an initiator of the D2D communication, and when initiating the D2D communication, the UE adds the configured first IP address of the UE and the instruction information to the first message. For example, when the instruction information is set to be pre-configured, the instruction information instructs the UE to use the first IP address and instructs the second UE to use the second IP address. The peer UE may establish the D2D communication connection between the second UE and the UE according to the instruction information and the first IP address.

It should be noted that, the UE in this embodiment instructs, by using the first message, the peer UE to establish the D2D communication connection by using the first IP address carried in the first message. The first IP address may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the first IP address is carried in an IP address sending message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address sending message.

The receiver 32 is configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message is used to indicate that establishment of the D2D communication connection succeeds.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

In another possible implementation manner of the foregoing embodiment shown in FIG. 18, a first message sent by the transmitter 31 includes only instruction information, where the instruction information is used to instruct the UE to use a first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct peer UE to use a second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the UE is an establisher of a device-to-device D2D communication connection. That is, the UE in this embodiment needs to obtain an IP address of the peer UE in D2D communication, that is, the peer UE is instructed to send a pre-configured second IP address of the peer UE to the UE.

Correspondingly, the receiver 32 is configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, where the second message specifically includes the second IP address, so that the UE establishes a device-to-device D2D communication connection to the peer UE according to the second IP address.

It should be noted that, the peer UE in this embodiment sends the pre-configured second IP address of the peer UE to the UE by using the received first message that includes the instruction information, to establish the D2D communication connection. The instruction information may be carried in a communication establishment message for initiating D2D communication, or may be sent after the UE sends a communication establishment message. For example, the instruction information is carried in an IP address sending message for sending. That is, the first message in this embodiment may be a communication establishment message or an IP address sending message.

Further, in this embodiment, the first message sent by the transmitter 31 may further include a PDN type, the PDN type is specifically a PDN type supported by the UE, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the peer UE. The second IP address in the second message is added by the peer UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type. In this embodiment, multiple IP addresses may be pre-configured in both the UE and the peer UE, and the multiple pre-configured IP addresses may be IP addresses of different types. Therefore, when initiating a D2D communication request to the peer UE, the UE adds a PDN type that can be compatible with the UE to the first message, to instruct the peer UE to send the second IP address whose type is the same as the PDN type to the UE when returning the second message to the UE.

The UE provided in this embodiment of the present invention is configured to execute the IP address allocation method in D2D communication provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 of the present invention, and has a corresponding functional module. Implementation principles and technical effects thereof are similar, and details are not described herein.

It should be noted that, the UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 18 is first UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 13, and the peer UE in the embodiments shown in FIG. 18 is second UE in the foregoing embodiments shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 13.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some of the steps of the foregoing method embodiments may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The foregoing program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program runs, the steps of the foregoing method embodiments are performed. The foregoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store program code, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

Finally, it should be noted that the foregoing embodiments are merely intended to describe the technical solutions of the present invention, but not to limit the present invention. Although the present invention is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, persons of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they may still make modifications to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent replacements to some or all technical features thereof, without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation method in device-to-device communication, wherein a first IP address is pre-configured in first user equipment (UE), a second IP address is pre-configured in second UE, and the method comprises: sending, by the first UE, a first message to the second UE, wherein the first message comprises instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a device-to-device (D2D) communication connection; and receiving, by the first UE, a second message sent by the second UE, wherein the second message comprises the second IP address, wherein the second IP address is used for the first UE establishing a D2D communication connection to the second UE.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first message further comprises a packet data network (PDN) type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the second UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the second UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type.
 3. User equipment (UE), wherein a first IP address is pre-configured in the UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in peer UE, and the UE comprises: a transmitter, configured to send a first message to the peer UE, wherein the first message comprises instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the peer UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the UE is an establisher of a device-to-device (D2D) communication connection; and a receiver, configured to receive a second message sent by the peer UE, wherein the second message comprises the second IP address, wherein the second IP address is used for the first UE establishing a D2D communication connection to the second UE.
 4. The UE according to claim 3, wherein the first message further comprises a packet data network (PDN) type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the peer UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the peer UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type.
 5. An Internet Protocol (IP) address allocation method in device-to-device communication, wherein a first IP address is pre-configured in first user equipment (UE), a second IP address is pre-configured in second UE, and the method comprises: receiving, by the second UE, a first message from the first UE, wherein the first message comprises instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the first UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the second UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the first UE is an establisher of a device-to-device (D2D) communication connection; and sending, by the second UE, a second message to the first UE, wherein the second message comprises the second IP address, wherein the second IP address is used for the first UE establishing a D2D communication connection to the second UE.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the first message further comprises a packet data network (PDN) type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the second UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the second UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type.
 7. User equipment (UE), wherein a first IP address is pre-configured in peer UE, a second IP address is pre-configured in the UE, and the UE comprises: a receiver, configured to receive a first message from the first UE, wherein the first message comprises instruction information, the instruction information is used to instruct the peer UE to use the first IP address, the instruction information is further used to instruct the UE to use the second IP address, and the instruction information is further used to indicate that the peer UE is an establisher of a device-to-device (D2D) communication connection; and a transmitter, configured to send a second message to the peer UE, wherein the second message comprises the second IP address, wherein the second IP address is used for the peer UE establishing a D2D communication connection to the UE.
 8. The UE according to claim 7, wherein the first message further comprises a packet data network (PDN) type, and the PDN type indicates a type of an IP address used by the UE; and the second IP address in the second message is added by the UE according to the instruction information and the PDN type. 